Turmeric: benefits and contraindications

Turmeric is an ingredient that offers major benefits for our body. However, its use is not recommended for everyone. We explain everything in the following post. Keep reading!

The earliest uses of turmeric as a food date back to traditional Chinese medicine, where it was used as an antidepressant to combat sadness and depression by altering the mood of those who consumed it.

What is turmeric and what is it used for?

Turmeric is a medicinal plant from the same family as ginger and has a yellow-orange colour. The powder from this ingredient is used as a food colouring and colouring for culinary use. So much so that it is one of the ingredients in curry spice, which is so famous in cooking. This ingredient, known as the 'queen of spices', is rich in iron, potassium, calcium, dietary fibre, sodium, zinc, copper, niacin, magnesium and vitamins C, E and K.

Benefits of turmeric

The benefits of consuming turmeric correctly are as follows:

• Contributes to liver drainage and helps eliminate stones in the kidney or gallbladder.
• Reduces the presence of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the body.
• Helps withstand the effects of debilitating medicines and strong treatments, such as chemotherapy.
• Improves memory. This ingredient helps combat age-related memory disorders.
• Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.Consuming turmeric, together with a healthy diet and daily exercise, helps to prevent heart attacks naturally.
• Helps fight colds, flu and asthmaand other similar illnesses.
• Stimulates the nervous system and strengthens the immune system.
• Helps fight stomach pain. It also soothes acidity and prevents intestinal colic and flatulence because it is carminative.
• Offers anti-inflammatory properties.Ideal for treating conditions such as arthritis, cystitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual periods, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. So much so that in herbal medicine it is known as natural ibuprofen.
• As we mentioned at the beginning,it helps fight depression and stress,as this ingredient increases serotonin.

Contraindications of turmeric

Although turmeric offers a wide variety of benefits, and it is very common to consume it as herbal teas, there are a number of situations and groups of people who should avoid its use or consumption:

• Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding should avoid consuming it due to its high concentration of curcumin.
• People with ulcers or liver disease.
• When we are exposed to the sun, as it increases our body's sensitivity toultraviolet rays.

The best turmeric products

Botanicapharma supplement

The food supplement Cúrcuma Complex de Botanicapharma is used to help fight joint pain and inflammatory intestinal conditions. As for how to take it, 2 capsules should be taken a day (lunch and dinner). 

Arkopharma supplement

Arkocápsulas de cúrcuma are made from turmeric and black pepper extracts, which help support flexibility and joint wellbeing. As for how to take them, take 2 capsules a day at breakfast. This supplement is suitable for vegans and should be taken from 1 year of age.

Yogi Tea turmeric infusion

Turmeric infusions Chai cúrcuma de Yogi Tea offer a wonderful aroma thanks to being combined with other spices, such as chai, pepper, ginger or cinnamon. In fact, these turmeric infusions with black pepper and ginger are quite well known, although they do have contraindications such as those mentioned above (for example, consuming them is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding). The ingredients in this product are as follows: turmeric, cinnamon, liquorice, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, apple, fennel, mace, cocoa shell and clove.

Would you like to discover more turmeric supplements? At Farmaciasdirect we have a wide catalogue of turmeric supplements so you can find exactly what you need.

Bibliography:

• Therapeutic effects of turmeric and its active principle, curcumin- Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, 2014.
• Effects of Curcumin on Health: a Systematic Literature Review- Nutrición Hospitalaria, 2015.